.NET Architecture & System Design Interview Question #22

What is capacity planning?

Architecture Fundamentals, Scalability, Availability & Performance Junior Beginner

Quick Interview Answer

Capacity planning estimates the resources required to handle expected workload while meeting performance and reliability targets. It uses traffic volume, growth, request cost, storage growth, peak factors, and safety margins.

Detailed Explanation

Capacity planning estimates the resources required to handle expected workload while meeting performance and reliability targets. It uses traffic volume, growth, request cost, storage growth, peak factors, and safety margins.

Good capacity planning is based on measurements and load testing. It should identify likely bottlenecks and include a strategy for scaling before resource saturation causes unacceptable service.

Code Example

Estimate:
peak requests/sec
x work per request
x growth factor
+ safety margin

Then test the assumptions.